Mourning the loss of Cathy Hopkins
It is with great sadness that we share news of the recent passing of Cathy Hopkins, a highly accomplished sculptor and beloved member of Fleisher’s faculty since 1977.
For over four decades, Cathy supported and mentored many aspiring artists at Fleisher, also teaching at the Wayne Art Center and Perkins Center for the Arts.
Trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, she worked in a variety of materials including bronze, clay, and polyester resin – her prolific output included everything from large sculptures for public commissions to commemorative coins for the Franklin Mint.
Cathy also taught martial arts classes for decades, speaking of how karate informed her sculpture practice, and vice versa: “Sculpture, karate, they’re all about forms in space. And there’s a need to keep practicing, perfecting. It’s a process.”
Please join us to celebrate the life of Cathy Hopkins at Fleisher Art Memorial on Saturday, May 18. The celebration of life will begin at 2:30 pm in Palumbo Park (directly adjacent to Fleisher), then move inside for a Quaker-style service in the Sanctuary.
Read more about Cathy’s life and work here.
For over 10 years, I had the pleasure and honor of being a student in her class. I have never once heard that she spoke of her success as an artist. Her teaching was characterized by her desire to help each student to see the form on models and transform it into a sculpture.